Three people seated on an orange couch, one with a laptop on their lap, one other holding a tablet, and the furthest to the left pointing to the tablet with a pen is holding to some papers

Laidlaw Scholars Program

Laidlaw Scholars logo

The Laidlaw scholars program is a prestigious 2-year undergraduate program focused on developing ethical and highly effective future global leaders, through rigorous international research and experiential education.

The program provides funding for students to engage in two consecutive summers abroad via MISTI, as well as a cohort-based on-campus leadership development program during scholars’ sophomore year. 

The program seeks ambitious, driven, curious students who are seeking to become future leaders across a wide range of sectors and disciplines. Scholars build community on campus, and join a global network of top students across 20 partner universities around the world, while learning how to develop their skills across a wide range of areas vital to leadership in the 21st century through hands-on global research and experiential learning.

Applications are now open via the MISTI application portal. The application closes January 15th 2026.

 

Program structure and timeline

Students participate in Laidlaw orientation activities to build community, get to know one another, learn the fundamentals of international research, and prepare for their first summer of research in the UK.

Students spend the first summer conducting research at universities across the UK. The MIT-UK program partners with faculty and researchers at some of the UK’s top universities to source research projects specifically for Laidlaw scholars, and scholars are also encouraged to source their own research projects in the specific disciplines and areas that they are interested in contributing to. Students can apply to the program with an existing research project already confirmed or can apply to existing projects once accepted into the program.

During the first summer, students participate in a 2-day weekend retreat where they learn some core communication skills and participate in workshops to strengthen their leadership abilities.

Students take one of the following three courses from the MIT Sloan School of Management to help develop core competencies essential for future leaders:

  • 15.276 Communicating with Data (Fall or Spring)
  • 15.301 People, Teams, and Organizations Laboratory (Fall only)
  • 15.279 Management Communication for Undergraduates (Spring only)

At the same time, students participate virtually in the Oxford Character Project, with their fellow Laidlaw scholars from around the world.

Students participate in a bespoke leadership development training based on the principles of the Tavistock leadership model, focused on Adaptive Leadership.

Students spend their second year summer participating in hands-on internships in MISTI country programs around the world where they practice and hone their leadership skills through a Leadership in Action project, focused on addressing one or multiple UN Sustainable Development Goals. As with the research projects for summer 1, in summer 2 students can either work with existing projects within MISTI countries, or they can work with MISTI managers to source their own Leadership In Action projects.

Students return to campus and give their final Presentations Of Learning where they synthesize the learning from the program and share their leadership journeys with others on campus.

Questions?

Contact Stephen
Stephen Barnes Headshot

Learn more about the program by contacting MISTI UK Managing Director, Stephen Barnes.